OMEGA CLASS DESTROYER

	class:	Omega
	type:	Destroyer
	length:	1,714.3 meters
	mass:	44.6 million metric tons
	crew:	850
	troop:	18,000
	fighter:	36
	power:	4 Fusion Reactors
	duration:	18 months
	weapon:	6 Heavy Particle/Lasers 6 Heavy Pulse Cannons 12 Particle/Lasers 12 Pulse Cannons Fusion missiles [2 launchers]
	defense:	8 to 10 meter armored hull - 18 Mk. II Defense Grid Energy Projectors

The Omega class Destroyer is a combination "Dreadnought/Aircraft carrier", capable of delivering maximum firepower combined with overwhelming fighter support and troop deployment.  Measuring 1,714.3* meters in length, the Omega class Destroyer is one of the most powerful ship in the Earth Alliance Star-Navy today.  Not only is it one of the most powerful ships, but this massive war vessel comprises the very heart and backbone of the modern Earthforce, space born military.

Rocketdyne* began development on the Omega class Destroyer after losing a lucrative construction contract to Karmatech, the design firm behind the Hyperion class Heavy Cruiser. Envisioned as a replacement for the Nova class Dreadnought, Rocketdyne began testing new systems and technology built onto existing Nova class frames as early as 2245.* The five expermental testbeds, designated as the NOVA-X class, were used to test new pulse cannon technology, advances in particle beam weapons and, most importantly, tested and proved the viability of using rotating sections on large scale warships. Unfortunately, development proceeded slowly following the outbreak of the Earth/Minbari war when the five Nova-X prototypes were destroyed* . As the war continued Earthforce demanded Rocketdyne instead concentrate on producing fighters and improving upon the existing fleet of Nova class Dreadnoughts while Karmatech produced more Hyperions. Upon the conclusion of the Earth/Minbari war Earthforce abandoned further development of the Hyperion and Rocketdyne was contracted to build Omega class Destroyers in mass as a replacement for the Hyperions*, which failed to present a viable deturent against the Minbari. Beginning with the EAS Achilles** registration number OCG-1** Rocketdyne began mass producing the Omega class Destroyer in mid 2248.

Omega class Destroyers are driven by four BB9K Ion/Particle thrust engines** and powered by four Military-Type General Fusion 650 high-energy fusion reactors. Using gelled deuterium as fuel for the reactors, the Omega has a total fuel reserve of over 296 million kilograms, with a total potential energy of 1.83*10²³ joule.** Given the Omega's estimated mission duration of eighteen months, the total power output of the Omega's four fusion reactors is approximately 3,943 Terawatts. Under combat conditions, estimated power output is 101,408 Terawatts, over a duration of three weeks. With this high a power output, the Omega class Destroyer the ability to form it's own jump point into hyperspace using four Lockheed-Mitchell Corp. vortex generators.**

Armament for this ship includes the following:

1. Two dual action heavy cannons capable of firing hybrid particle-beam / X-Ray lasers and pulsed plasma bursts.***
2. Set aft along each engine, four rear firing heavy Particle/Lasers and heavy Pulse Cannons.***
3. Along the ship's sides are twelve Omni-directional phalanx defense pods mounted with standard Pulse Cannons and Particle/Lasers.***
4. Fusion tipped missiles, believed to have at least two launchers and a total of forty missiles.

Omega class Destroyers carry a standard crew of over 850 duty personnel (540 persons on deep patrol, 1000+ during times of war)***, and 12 command level officers. Crew compliment can and usually does include an additional 120 marines. Destroyers have a standard payload of some 36 attack fighters/bombers*** four shuttles, and can carry 80 armored cavalry and as many as 18,000 troops.

Fighter launch system used on the Omega class Destroyer is both simple and efficient. Sometimes referred to as the Pez, the Starfuries are held side by side, within a series of offset elevators referred to as locks. When the launch order is given, the Starfury on the right is raised and fired from its launch platform, and is immediately followed by the vessel to its left and vice-versa. With sixteen locks per Destroyer, each holding two Starfuries, an Omega class vessel can launch all 36 of her fighters in less than two minutes under emergency conditions***.

Unlike most ships in the Earthforce Navy, the Omega class Destroyer does employ a type of artificial gravity unavailable to Earth Alliance warships twenty-five years before. Known as "Simulated Gravity", a one-g gravity environment is produced by rotating the ship's center section in a clockwise direction at 10 m/s².

To provide a stable turning axis, the center section rotates around a drive shaft; a reinforced hollow bar that runs between the rear and forward section. Rotation is accomplished using an advanced superconductor motor similar to those used on the hover-trains on earth. This prevents wear on the drive shaft and the rotating section, as the electromagnetic super conduction system floats the rotating section around the axis. As there is little to no physical contact between the forward, rear and rotating section, as well as the axis, Omega class Destroyers experience almost no frictional deterioration.

Destroyers are broken into three sections and each section is designated for a specific function. The forward or Hangar section of the ship is a zero gravity environment that is designated for star-craft support, main weapons, and the ship's main sensor/communication array. The ships main storage bay is also housed in this section.

Center or Habitation section is where the ship's control and command reside, main bridge and two secondary bridges.*** It also includes primary life support, crew quarters and the ships main computers are contained in this area. The habitation section also houses the ships secondary storage bays, as well as a small botanical garden of limited potential.

The rear or Engineering section an Omega class Destroyer is designated to the ship's ion and jump engines, fusion reactor, primary and secondary fuel tanks and aft weapons array. As neither the forward or rear areas have gravity, the boots of Earth Alliance personnel have Velcro tipped toes which prevent them from floating off in the zero gravity areas of their ships.

Compared to the Nova class vessels, the Omega class Destroyers have significantly more recreational area. This is due to the fact that the Omega class Destroyer was designed a little more with their crews in mind and not simply the weapon systems.

Recent developments in Earth Alliance technology has spawned true artificial gravity technology and, as such, newer warships like the Warlock class Destroyer, do not need rotating sections to simulate gravity.**** Smaller versions of this system can, in theory, also be used aboard older Earth warships, in order to reduce the effect of inertia.

[*Size verified by Tim Earls, CGI / Special Effects director for Babylon 5.]
[*As stated in B5 CD-ROM Guide.]
[*Five Omegas were seen in the background during "In the Beginning." This clearly shows the Omegas were, at the very least, being tested as of 2246.]
[*We saw the first Test Omega OCG-B destroyed in the upper left-hand corner of the first battle, and the second Omega OCG-A, middle right-hand side, ram a Sharlin during a commercial break transition.]
[*Based on statements by John Sheridan in "And Now for a Word."]
[**JMS said the first Omega to role off the assembly line after the Earth/Minbari War was the EAS Achilles in a posting at the "Lurkers Guide."]
[**Hull registraton number based on the EAS Agamemnon, who's registration number was OCG-5 as clearly seen on John Sheridan's baseball cap in the episode "Knives."]
[**As stated in B5 CD-ROM Guide.]
[**Fuel tank size based on size of engines and the engineering section of the Omega.]
[**Babylon 5 RPG and Earthforce Source Book establish Lockheed-Mitchell as making Earth's first Jump Gate and vortex generator technology.]
[***Weapons loadout based on direct observations from the show.]
[***Crew compliment based on dialogue in episodes "Intersections in Real Time" and "Endgame."]
[***Fighter loadout based on direct observations from the the fighter launch seen in "Severed Dreams."]
[***Launch figures based on direct observations from the the fighter launch seen in "Severed Dreams."]
[***Source: Earthforce Source Book.]
[****As seen in "Crusade" and postings by JMS.]

Last Updated 04-06-05